Emissaries on emissions

Just in case you got the impression WashPIRG is a lonely group of malcontents in an otherwise satisfied community of nature lovers it looks like a bunch of other folks want more from the Gregoire as well.

Casey Ridihalgh of the Sierra Club backed LaBorde’s call.

“Seeing Oregon Gov Kulongoski’s announcement that he’s going to move on an emission cap-and-trade program with or without other western governors isa step in the right direction. We hope that Governor Gregoire looks intosuch a plan with him.

Here’s what the Sierra Club (and WashPIRG and the Northwest Energy Coalition) want from the Evergreen state:

“We urge our leaders to adopt the following policy priorities aimed atreducing current greenhouse-gas emissions and avoiding new pollutionsources:

* A legally binding commitment to reducing greenhouse gases by 20%below current levels by 2020, 60-80% by 2050. * Set a carbon dioxide performance standard for utilities’ powercontracts, their own generation, and proposed plants (akin to California’s standards bill, SB 1368). * All proposed state-funded projects should be evaluated for potential greenhouse-gas emissions. Since the transportation sector produces the most emissions, Department of Transportation projects, in particular, must be designed for and prioritized according to their effectiveness in reducinggreenhouse-gas emissions. Congestion pricing should be considered as a wayto put a premium on driving. * Set an oil reduction target of 20% of current levels by 2020. Develop a plan to increase state use of hybrids and electrified vehicles and to increase transit investments to reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicles. * Complete rulemaking and ensure compliance with the Clean Energy Initiative, I-937. * Support Clean Air Clean Fuels, HB 1303. * Support legislation to update and improve the state’s carbon dioxide emissions mitigation standard for new fossil-fuel power plants. * Coordinate and help support the 23 Washington cities that have signed onto the Mayors’ Climate Initiative to achieve 7% below 1990 levelsof CO2 emissions by 2012.